Facebook launches UK anti-hate speech initiative

Social media firm Facebook on Friday launched a campaign to combat online extremism.

The so-called U.K. Online Civil Courage Initiative will provide training and funding for local organizations dealing with online hate speech and extremism.

The program comes in the wake of criticism by politicians that tech companies are slow to remove extremist content. U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May called on firms to tackle the issue after the Manchester suicide bombing last month.

“The recent terror attacks in London and Manchester — like violence anywhere — are absolutely heartbreaking,” said Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer, according to the BBC. “We know we have more to do — but through our platform, our partners and our community we will continue to learn to keep violence and extremism off Facebook.”

The U.K. initiative follows similar Facebook projects launched in Germany in 2016 and France this March.

Last Sunday, Google introduced its efforts to combat terrorism online, including measures to identify and remove extremist contents more efficiently.

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Katherine

Does this constitute incitement to violence?: [Remember] when your Lord inspired to the angels, “I am with you, so strengthen those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved, so strike [them] upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip.” Quran 8:12, sūrat l-anfāl (The Spoils of War)